Microsoft store coming to Southpoint, Coldwater Creek to close

Microsoft Corp. is opening a store at The Streets at Southpoint near Coach, in the spot in the mall that previously housed Brookstone.

Microsoft doesn’t have an opening date set for the store, which will sell desktop and laptop computers, tablets, phones, Xbox One consoles and accessories, software and games.

The first Microsoft retail store opened in 2009 in Scottsdale, Ariz. As of Thursday, the company had grown its retail store count to 90.

In addition to selling computers and other items, the stores have answer desks to help customers with technical questions, troubleshooting and repairs, as well as a workshop area where employees can teach customers how to use new products.

The stores also allow customers to schedule “complimentary, obligation-free personal shopping sessions” to get “uninterrupted time with a store associate to find the best technology solutions to meet their needs.”

In April, Brookstone Inc. announced that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and had entered into a $147 million stock purchase agreement with an affiliate of Spencer Spirit Holdings.

The agreement was set up so that New Hampshire-based Brookstone would continue to operate its mall and airport stores, catalog, website and wholesale channels under the Brookstone brand with current employees intact, according to a news release. An attempt to reach the company for comment was not successful by deadline Friday.

In other news at Southpoint, the Coldwater Creek store at the mall is holding a store-closing sale. Merchandise is selling for 30 to 50 percent off.

Coldwater Creek stores are closing nationwide as part of the Idaho-based company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan.

The company announced in April that it and all of its subsidiaries had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

According to the release, company leaders looked at alternatives including selling the company, but they couldn’t find a buyer or a source of capital.

So the company’s board decided to sell off the company’s assets to get the most value for creditors.

Patrick Anderson, senior general manager for Southpoint, said he doesn’t yet have a new retailer to fill the Coldwater Creek space, but he said there is interest and “a few deals circulating.” It will likely be an apparel store.

The space “will not be sitting there long,” Anderson said

Also at Southpoint, the cinnamon roll store Cinnabon is returning.

There was a Cinnabon near the food court in the space where Pandora is now, but the new Cinnabon will open early June on the upper level near Belk. It will go into space created from the downsizing of the girls’ clothing store Justice.

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CinnaMonster reopens at Northgate: Northgate Mall has announced that CinnaMonster has opened in a larger space at the mall that had previously housed Dairy Queen and Orange Julius before they closed earlier this year.

CinnaMonster is one of two establishments owned and operated by Sadiq Kassamali, who also operates Micky’s Chicken and Fish in Northgate’s Food Gallery.

CinnaMonster has added an additional 239 square feet of space and is across from Victoria’s Secret near the Carousel and Entrance 9. In addition to its cinnamon rolls, ICEE drinks, and Hershey’s ice cream, Kassamali is adding soft-serve ice cream and frozen yogurt.

Northgate Mall is at 1058 West Club Boulevard, Durham.

Have an item for The Buzz? Contact Laura Oleniacz at loleniacz@heraldsun.com or at 919-419-6636.